Posted on 10/10/2004 3:10:03 PM PDT by Theodore R.
Breaux leaves bipartisan legacy
Analysts assess senator's career
By GERARD SHIELDS gshields@theadvocate.com Advocate Washington bureau
WASHINGTON -- When U.S. Sen. John Breaux, D-La., was first elected to the Senate in 1986, he was invited to a retirement dinner for outgoing senators. "I remember saying 'Boy, these guys are old,'" Breaux, 60, recalls. "Now they're having a retirement dinner for me."
After 32 years in Congress and four years initially working as a congressional aide, Breaux's days in office are winding down as political analysts begin to assess what will be his historical stamp on the institution.
Breaux is most remembered for being the consummate political deal maker, willing to reach a hand out to Republican rivals across the aisle in order to cause some government action in a body that is increasingly bitterly partisan.
"He's sort of the last breed of bi-partisan Democrats," said Ed Renwick, a Loyola University political scientist. "The Senate is losing someone who could build bridges."
Being a centrist hasn't always served Breaux, whose legislative efforts sometimes were undercut by liberal Democrats or the Republican administration.
"John jokes that he sometimes feels like a skunk in the middle of the road, run over by cars coming from both directions," Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said at Breaux's farewell dinner. "Make no mistake, it takes courage to stand alone."
Breaux wouldn't have it any other way, he said.
"Congress shouldn't be like the Super Bowl -- where one team is victor," he said recently.
And despite voting with Republicans 42 percent of the time last year, Breaux still earns the respect of liberal lions in the Senate, such as Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.
"I admired his constant effort to move the process forward," Kennedy said during a recent Breaux testimonial.
Breaux prides himself on being the author of legislation that has provided millions of dollars to Louisiana for education, recreation and fisheries. Breaux's signature piece, the Breaux Act, raised close to $2 billion for coastal restoration projects by taxing gas on small engines such as boat motors and lawn mowers.
"I'm not frustrated, I'm not unhappy, I'm not mad," Breaux said of his decision to retire from the Senate. "I've made many friends and no enemies."
Not bad for a boy who grew up in Crowley, the only child of a marriage between an oilfield worker and dress maker.
When he earned his political science degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1964, he was the first member of his family to graduate from college. He picked up a law degree from LSU in 1967.
Breaux jumped into politics as an aide to his political mentor, then-U.S. Rep. Edwin Edwards, D-Crowley. When Edwards ran for governor in 1972, he pushed Breaux to fill his House seat. When elected, Breaux was 28. Now, he jokes that he was so young that people often mistook him for an elevator operator.
Breaux served in the U.S. House for 14 years before winning the U.S. Senate seat vacated by former Sen. J. Bennett Johnston, D-La.
While endorsing Breaux, former U.S. Sen. Russell Long, D-La., noted that Breaux had 18 pieces of House legislation signed into law during his tenure.
From his Senate perch, Breaux has been a critical vote in national issues. In 2002, he was key to cutting the President Bush tax cut from $1.6 trillion to $1.35 trillion. In 1996, he led the fight for legislation that allowed people to transfer their insurance from job to job. He helped bring together compromises that same year that resulted in the historic welfare overhaul bill.
"John Breaux is the consummate politician," ABC political news analyst and New Orleans native Cokie Roberts said in Breaux's testimonial. "He is able to relate to all different kinds of people. ... He's no phony about it, he really does enjoy the company."
With a combination of Southern charm and determination, Breaux became an expert on issues such as health care, Medicare, Social Security, tax policy, elderly affairs and the budget.
"John Breaux will go down in the tradition of Sen. Russell Long," said Thomas Ferrell, a University of Louisiana at Lafayette political science professor. "He is someone who used the rules of the Senate, and used them to his advantage, and he knew how to build coalitions."
Breaux's power existed not only in Washington, but back home in Louisiana, where he helped to lead the Democratic Party. Breaux served as a critical supporter of Gov. Kathleen Blanco in her win last year. Breaux also was a backer of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, helping Landrieu win election to the Senate through efforts such as calling in the Congressional Black Caucus to campaign for her.
"He really, truly has been a mentor and friend," Landrieu said. "Louisiana is going to miss him because he hasn't just kept the seat, he's delivered."
In addition to his politics, Breaux will be remembered for his mischievous, colorful character. Each year, at the annual Washington Mardi Gras celebration, he took to the stage playing the washboard with the band as he threw out fistfuls of Carnival beads to revelers.
He recently was runner-up in a Washingtonian magazine survey of congressional staffers in the category of "no altar boy."
"I'm from the state of Louisiana, and the state of Louisiana has a history of mischievousness," Breaux said. "To be a dull representative from Louisiana would not be in keeping with the spirit of the state."
Yet Breaux's social ways and laissez-faire demeanor have gotten him criticized by good-government groups such as Public Citizen, which in 1998 gave Breaux its "Golden Leash'" award for accepting large energy industry contributions while opposing bills to clamp down on smog and emissions.
Most recently, Breaux was labeled "King of Travel" after going on more trips sponsored by lobbyists or corporations in the last four years than any of the 535 members of Congress, according to a study produced by Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Some of the trip sponsors had legislation pending or are regulated by a Breaux committee.
Breaux called the trips "appropriate and proper," necessary to interact with groups affected by Congress.
Breaux has yet to say what he is going to do after his retirement. Speculation is that he'll start a lobbying firm similar to other past Louisiana members of Congress such as Johnston and former U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston, R-Metairie.
One thing is certain, Breaux said, he will remain in Washington, where he has a house on Capitol Hill.
"Bennett Johnston continued to advocate for Louisiana, and I'm sure John Breaux will be in great demand both for Louisiana and nationally," Landrieu said.
Daschle noted that being ambassador to France always has been high on Breaux's dream-job list.
"I remember a few years ago, John asked President Clinton 'Do you think I could handle France?'" Daschle recalled. "President Clinton replied, 'The question is whether France could handle you?'"
Breaux was delighted that in his final session of Congress, he was able to help negotiate the largest changes in the nation's Medicare program through a prescription drug plan. He will go on the election-year break before returning for his final weeks.
Breaux has no regrets about his decision to step down from the Senate, he said.
"I'm happier with the decision every day that passes," he said. "You don't look backward in life, you look forward."
Editor's note: Gerard Shields' e-mail address is gshields@theadvocate.com.
Will the LAST Democrat senator in the South please turn out the liughts..
Breaux's a Dem. And I wouldn't come close to saying I agreed with him in politics. But, he was a good democrat in the sense that he's never been a whole hog lib. He did have the guts to go his own way and not cave to the lib/rat agenda. And has compromised as well as voted for more conservative things in which he believed.
I would have to say IMHO, of the senatorial rats, he is one I hate to see go... I somehow doubt that Louisiana will replace him with a republican. I don't know of another Rat there who can fill his shoes.
I don't know of another Rat there who can fill his shoes.
Breaux does: Rep. Chris John, D-LA, the man he has endorsed as his successor
They don't build statues for "moderates".
Go away and line your pockets Senator.
Breaux was responsible for getting Nancy Landrieux re-elected, but using his reputation as a moderate to lie for her. He persuaded the voters that she was pro-life and a good pal of President Bush's. NOT.
Bipartisan legacy my arse.
I still don't like that "D" before the "-LA".
But, we're talkin' about the land of yellow dog democrats so I'm not holdin' my breath.
Still, don't you imagine, that Breaux will always be remembered as "bipartisan" even if he was quite obviously partisan, being a staunch Louisiana Democrat. I have never heard of his having endorsed any Republican candidate for anything. Nor did his mentor Edwin Washington Edwards ever endorse a Republican for anything. Nor did the other LA revered Democrats J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., Russell B. Long, and Mary Landrieu ever endorse any Republican for any office.
It's like that old adage that a man with a reputation as an early riser can sleep until noon without being missed. Breaux can be loyal to Clinton,Gore,Kerry, etc. and still be "seen" in Louisiana as "bipartisan."
I'm someone who was conservative and bipartisan for about 30 years in Washington. John Breaux was one of the most interesting people that I interacted with during that time, and he never let me down during that time. We spent a lot of time hunting and fishing together, and his office was always open to me.
Years ago when he and W Hinson Moore , both Louisiana Congressmen, decided to run against each other for the Senate, I was asked by the Moore camp to support him. I said I would, but I wanted to tell John personally. He simply said to me, I understand. Cover your base.
Of course, he won.
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